Are Trees on Naugachhia Subdivision's Embankments a Paper Reality or Ground Truth? Millions Worth of Saplings Fall Prey to Floods, Soil Erosion, and Apathy
Bhagalpur/Naugachhia (Special Correspondent): For environmental conservation, expanding the green cover, and strengthening river embankments, the government pours millions of rupees like water every year. Lush green photographs get printed in bulky advertisements, and the grand target of "planting millions of saplings" is successfully achieved on paper. However, when one descends to the ground to inspect the reality of these claims, the truth that emerges is deeply alarming. The reality of the tree plantation campaign conducted on the embankments of the Ganges and Kosi rivers within the sensitive Naugachhia subdivision area of Bhagalpur district tells precisely such a tale. Here, embankments might be shown as lush green on paper, but in reality, most of the saplings have either fallen prey to floods and soil erosion or succumbed to departmental apathy and cattle grazing.
What Is the Actual Picture of Tree Plantation on Naugachhia's Embankments?
The Naugachhia subdivision region holds the maximum length of dams and embankments built along the banks of the Ganges, Kosi, and other tributary rivers in the Bhagalpur district. In this region, considered hyper-sensitive in terms of floods, tree plantation was deemed critical for both security and greenery:
The State of Years-Old Campaigns: A few years ago, large-scale tree planting was carried out along various embankments in Naugachhia under the 'Namami Gange' and other green initiatives. At that time, plenty of photographs were clicked to publicize the scheme. Today, however, the traces of those campaigns have vanished in many places.
Condition of Ring Bunds and Main Embankments: Saplings planted on ring bunds and embankments built along the floodplains of the Ganges and Kosi in areas like Ismailpur, Kharik, Gopalpur, and Bihpur were either washed away by the catastrophic floodwaters arriving every year or consumed by severe soil erosion. Barring scattered trees around spurs, most embankments lie desolate.
Erosion and Floods: The Biggest Natural Causes of Sapling Destruction
Naugachhia's terrain suffers the onslaught of floods and river erosion every year. Natural causes are no less responsible for the failure of greenery to take root on its embankments:
Soft Soil and Swift Currents: During the monsoon months, when the water levels of the Ganges and Kosi surge in full spate, the soil of the embankments becomes extremely soft. Due to forceful pounding and swift water currents, soil erosion occurs rapidly, uprooting young saplings before they can anchor deep roots into the soil, sweeping them directly into the river.
Yearly Devastation: Over the past few years, the manner in which large portions of embankments and spurs fell prey to floods in regions like Ismailpur-Bindtoli and Saidpur simultaneously decimated thousands of trees and plants growing there.
Human Negligence and Lack of Maintenance: Schemes Confined to Paper
Apart from the fury of nature, the apathy of the administrative machinery and an acute lack of preservation have exposed the truth behind this "photographic plantation":
Nothing in the Name of Protection: According to rules, for the initial few years following plantation, tree guards (gabions) or barricading must be arranged for the safety of saplings, alongside regular irrigation and maintenance. However, on the ground, most gabions installed for protection broke down years ago or were stolen.
Cattle Grazing and Firewood Usage: Livestock belonging to populations residing near embankments and local herders frequently graze on the tender green leaves of these saplings. Furthermore, locals chop down the wood of these plants for winter warmth or everyday utility while the department remains fast asleep.
The Department's Stance and Officials' Claims
When the Forest Department and concerned administrative officials are questioned regarding this matter, they offer their own arguments:
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) asserts that thousands of trees have been planted by the department from time to time for embankment stability and ecological balance. They also maintain that tree roots (especially bamboo or other sturdy species) help solidify the embankment soil.
However, the department also acknowledges that being a flood-prone region, natural damages run high every year, and efforts will be made in the upcoming session to boost plantation rates with rigorous security arrangements.
The reality of tree plantation on the embankments of Naugachhia subdivision holds up a mirror showing that environmental or embankment protection cannot be achieved merely through paperwork statistics and a culture of clicking photos during inaugurations. Unless monitoring of the 'survival rate'—from the procurement of saplings to their maturity—is strictly enforced and local residents are integrated into their protection, budget funds will continue to fall prey to floods and negligence year after year. The need of the hour is for the administration to formulate a robust and transparent action plan on the ground; only then can greenery genuinely take root on Naugachhia's embankments.
